The first ice crowd is usually avid anglers that drill and test and have all the safety gear. If you’re unsure about ice safety, there is a wealth of information available online. Resorts on big-name ice destinations are likely to drill and test the ice for you in anticipation of a successful season. Some resorts have their crew on the ice daily, checking for pressure ridges, cracks and moving ice. I am happy to pay the access fee to a marked trail on big water such as Upper Red Lake, Lake of the Woods, Leech and Winnibigoshish.

Active walleyes

Walleyes are feeding right now. This is a continuation of their late fall feeding binge—which is really a cold-water “fatten up now to survive the winter” reaction. Dropping spoons with a minnow head and jigging gets strikes that almost pull your ice rod out of your hand.

Bro Pro Tip: What you wear is important when roving around on the ice. I wear my AFTCO Reaper Hoodie every day to protect my neck and face. During early-ice trips, I always have Fish Monkey Wooly Gloves, but I stash a pair of super-warm Yeti Gloves or Mitts as a warming station for my hands. Even when it isn’t below zero, my hands appreciate warmth after touching cold fish and bait.

As far as bait goes, a common fathead will work on a deadstick or as a snipped head on a jigging spoon. Rainbow minnows or golden shiners, if available, are too good to just snip a head to place on a spoon. They are better suited dorsal-hooked or on a deadstick with a split shot one foot above a Gamakatsu Red Octopus-style hook lightly buried in the dorsal above their spine.

If I’m not fishing Upper Red or Lake of the Woods, there are many other shallow-water choices. There may not be as many bites, but other species of fish mixed in such as perch, panfish and even largemouth bass can be super fun!

Ice landing plan

I scout for early-ice spots when I have a chance in late fall. I look for spots that are close to shore and have good fishing, with less distance to walk out to, to help create a successful and safe ice fishing day.

Some fishing areas require longer walks based on depth, weeds, rocks or edges. I keep my Humminbird HELIX on top of my Otter sled, facing toward me, leaving a plotter line trail while I RAZR holes to check for ice thickness on the way to my fishing spot. Many times on early ice, I have had snowfall while I’m on the lake; I like to take the exact same trail that I made while I was checking on my way out, especially after snow or sunset. Just trackback along your previous path.

Walleyes stay active on edges. If they are biting on flats, walk softly and keep angler activity to a minimum. If there is snow cover, get ready to set the hook. If the ice is clear, walleyes will be easily spooked, so find weeds or rocks to fish. The past summer had darker water due to algae growth, followed by a short winter with a lack of snow. The freeze-up process makes algae dormant and creates clearer water.

Spoons and cadence

I have always been a fan of Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Spoons for walleyes. Tip them with a minnow head and choose from an assortment of colors for the aforementioned lakes. I had a chance to use some of the new Tungsten Spoons and caught lots of walleyes with them. They have a solid feel and a loud rattle that absolutely brings walleyes in angry.

I primarily use Sunline fluorocarbon through the ice; it wicks less water than braid and has a better sink rate than mono. When you are fishing straight down, sink rate is everything. Plus, it is abrasion-resistant for the sharp edges of drilled holes. Use “fast snap” clips on your line to change spoon colors quickly. Or tie with a loop knot if you have a hot color. When I’m fishing outside my house, my favorite rod is a St. Croix Custom Ice 36-inch Spoon Hopper. The shorter 32-inch Search Bait Rod works perfectly inside my Otter.

When you drop the spoon down, try different approaches. You can let it hit the bottom, or it stop a foot or two above the bottom, then start with a two-foot sweep and a pause; or a light hop or double hop. The pause allows the fish to grab the injured spoon bait presentation before the prey flees.

We are finding out more and more on different bodies of water, and walleyes may be farther off the bottom than originally thought. I have fished from the bottom of the ice down and caught walleyes in less than 15 feet, halfway down. On Lake of the Woods and the Great Lakes, I have caught them in the upper third of the water column. On Upper Red, however, they are bottom dwellers.

Reactive bites

I walk long distances during early ice to rip a spoon and have reactive bites from walleyes. The jolt on my St. Croix rod drives me, no matter how much snow or slush impedes my travel. Setting the hook and landing a fish through a RAZR’d hole is my passion, and after I have released the fish, I want to repeat the experience.

Good luck, be safe on the ice, drill and test before you walk or ride a machine!

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